Let’s talk today about Scanners. Perhaps I have been a bit
too harsh on this movie in the past which has earned me shame at times. Making a bold statement like “I prefer
Scanners 2 to Scanners,” is a comment that will surely invite criticism if not
incite a bloody mob of horror fans shaking their heads as if in seizure trying
to make your head explode as if gelatin inside latex. That is not to say that
the concept of Scanners hasn’t always been interesting to me or that I found
certain scenes unworthy of their praise; it’s just that I found other
Cronenberg films more appealing. Scanners has always felt slow to me even
though it starts off with a powerhouse scene and ends with a battle of the
telekinetically enhanced dueling that will make your cleaning lady run for the
Chlorox. I’ve fallen asleep through the
middle of Scanners on more than one occasion. That always led me to believe
that perhaps I was in the wrong state of mind to enjoy it. After all, at an
Exhumed Films screening of Shivers this past year I managed to crash for a
portion of the movie after a long day of horrorthoning movies, and I love
Shivers. Let’s see how things changed with this viewing because I assure you
they did. Did I mention that it’s the Criterion Collection release on Blu-ray?
I’m sure that helped fully immerse me in the viewing experience because that’s
what Criterion does; they create experiences rather than simply allowing you to
watch a movie.
Synopsis from Criterion:
After a man with extraordinary—and frighteningly destructive—telepathic abilities is nabbed by agents from a mysterious rogue corporation, he discovers he is far from the only possessor of such strange powers, and that some of the other “scanners” have their minds set on world domination, while others are trying to stop them.
For the uninitiated:
The most important thing to do when you watch a Criterion
release, especially one you’ve already seen on another format or through a
different distributor, is to read the provided literature. This allows the
viewer a chance to look for something new or perhaps to allow you a fresh
perspective on an old favorite. Chances are good that by reading the Mind and
Matter essay by Kim Newman provided with the duel format, DVD/Blu-ray release
that you’ll be able to place Scanners into historical context and concept
evolution. It’s a good read; it’s one of the reason why a Criterion disc
provides a more full experience than most distributors who simply plunk a disc
in front of you with a collage of extras and forget to tell you why it’s
important. Kim Newman provides a sound explanation for Scanners’ popularity, its
place in Science Fiction, influence on future cinema and, of course, the
importance of its splatter. The booklet also contains variations of the
colorfully gorgeous, neo-modern take on splatter as well as clear production
notes and chapter listing. The color palette for this particular release is
slightly disturbing but overwhelmingly beautiful.
The transfer on the Blu-ray is jaw-droppingly exquisite,
supervised by David Cronenberg himself, leaving no cause for criticism. I didn’t
notice noise reduction techniques that might obscure my viewing. Every juicey
piece of splattered head is well received on screen. This should be nothing new
to the Criterion collector. While I have stated that Scanners was not always my
favorite movie to watch in full, the important scenes that I have focused on
time and time again are miraculous in HD. There is crisp contrast with perfect
blacks leaving vast, open space through which gelatin can ramrod unabated by
picture flaw.
From a content perspective, I was actually quite taken with
the story of Scanners. Even though I may be familiar with the plot as a whole
and even watched it within the last year on a badly beat up DVD release (the
one that lulled me to sleep) I managed to find a point of interest in the film
and follow it through to the end, that being Michael Ironside’s perfectly
brutal performance that almost plays out like as a benevolent fascist general
leading an army into the word of the norms. Perhaps the best way to think of
him as a early 90’s/Cronenberg version of Magneto of X-Men fame, proud of his
unique power and willing to embrace it. The thought had never occurred to me
previously to follow Darryl Revok (Ironside) as the leader of the evolved world
in lieu of the heir apparent, “good guy” challenger to the dark world created
by Ironside in response to ConSec, Cameron Vale (played by Stephen Lack). The
story changes completely when you take a different perspective on the movie,
picking your own protagonist and simply allow the story to evolve from myth to
common fact before having the whole twisted truth come to light near the close
of the picture. While I am still a fan of Scanners 2, and love the continuation
of the story (perhaps with a bit more gusto than the original) I now am able to
appreciate the story of the underdog (or is he the top dog) in Scanners.
The “Scanners” Way documentary on the special effects
creation is perfect for upcoming filmmakers and fan boys alike. It’s explains
where Dick Smith’s involvement happens and the various types of explosive
techniques were considered with regard to the infamous head explosion. Perhaps
my favorite extra is the interview with Michael Ironside. I’ve always taken
Ironside to be a great action star “wing man” semi-villain, but it never
occurred to me that this man was so well spoken and that he was much kinder
than his filmography would let on. I kept hearing a subdued whisper of
“Maverick!” under my breath as he went through his history in the film industry
and his experience with Scanners. It was a treat. I look at him with new eyes.
My concept of him as the “clean up” bad boy from the V Mini Series has been
totally blown. Also included is a 2012
interview with Stephen Lack , a 1981 interview with Cronenberg himself from
CBC’s The Bob Mclean Show and the usual trailer and radio spots.
For fans of Cronenberg’s body of work the Scanner set
includes the movie Stereo from 1969. This is Cronenberg’s first feature film,
restored in 2k digital transfer. Now I love this man’s body of work, my
favorite movie being The Brood and quickly followed by The Dead Zone, but this
might be a stretch for the casual fan. It’s definitely science fiction but
exceptionally artsy with moments of pure narration to carry the film’s concepts
through a semi-surreal, neo plastic world with Sci-Fi philosophical leanings.
As a collector’s item the Criterion disc is a great set with
exotic artwork that truly sells the weight and breath of this picture. Still
it’s tasteful; Criterion does simply elegance with a hint of dark and filthy
quite well. The package is filled with all the necessities one might expect
from a fan favorite genre release, supervised by Cronenberg and sounds just so
damn good. It made me a believer in a new race of telepathically gifted beings
which begs the question: is the new Criterion Collection release of Scanners an
extension of the mind control techniques perfected by Darryl Revok to make us
subservient to his newly created and enhanced beings with exceptional talents
for messing with your mind? Buy it and find
out.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED EDITION:
- New, restored 2K digital film transfer, supervised by director David Cronenberg, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
- The “Scanners” Way, a new documentary by Michael Lennick on the film’s special effects, featuring interviews with Cronenberg’s collaborators
- Mental Saboteur, a new interview with actor Michael Ironside
- The Ephemerol Diaries, a 2012 interview with actor and artist Stephen Lack
- Excerpt from a 1981 interview with Cronenberg on the CBC’s The Bob McLean Show
- New, restored 2K digital transfer of Stereo (1969), Cronenberg’s first feature film
- Trailer and radio spots
- PLUS: An essay by critic Kim Newman
- New cover by Connor Willumsen
Note: 1.78:1 AR, Monaural.
You can order Scanners, available now from the Criterion
Collection.
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